Tottenham Edges Man United in Thrilling 4-3 League Cup Quarterfinal: Ange’s Trophy Hunt Stays Alive
Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the League Cup semifinals on Friday morning after surviving a dramatic 4-3 victory over Manchester United in a chaotic encounter. With Spurs aiming for their first trophy since 2008, the game proved to be a rollercoaster for both players and fans.
Ange Postecoglou’s men raced to a 3-0 lead, only to endure nervy moments after a series of defensive blunders allowed United back into the game. Despite the drama, Spurs held firm in the dying minutes to secure their spot in the final four.
Spurs’ Bright Start
Tottenham set the tone early with an aggressive press that forced turnovers and created opportunities. The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Dominic Solanke capitalized on a rebound from Pedro Porro’s saved shot, smashing the ball past United’s goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir.
Spurs nearly doubled their lead moments later when Dejan Kulusevski’s powerful strike was stopped by Bayindir. Meanwhile, United threatened through Christian Eriksen, who orchestrated several promising chances but couldn’t find the back of the net.
A Chaotic Second Half
Tottenham came out firing in the second half, with Son Heung-Min doubling the lead in the 48th minute after a smooth link-up play with James Maddison. Just four minutes later, Yves Bissouma added a third, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
However, Tottenham’s defensive frailties reared their head. A miscommunication at the back allowed Bruno Fernandes to score in the 61st minute, followed by another mistake gifting Marcus Rashford a goal in the 68th.
Son restored the two-goal cushion with an audacious corner-kick goal in the 78th minute, but United refused to go quietly. Jonny Evans scored in the 94th minute to set up a tense finale.
Postecoglou Holds On
The final minutes felt like an eternity for Postecoglou, with United pushing hard for an equalizer. Spurs’ defense held on, though, sealing a crucial win that keeps their trophy hopes alive.
Speaking after the game, former Spurs midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp called it “a masterclass in how not to close out a game,” criticizing some of the decision-making in Tottenham’s defensive setup.
The Road Ahead
Tottenham’s reward for the victory is a two-legged semifinal against Liverpool, with the ties scheduled for early January and February. On the other side of the bracket, Arsenal will face Newcastle.
The journey to break their 16-year trophy drought continues, but for now, Spurs can savor their hard-fought victory over one of England’s biggest clubs.